Wolf of NúmenorLouen_LeoncoeurChapter 16: A wolf a rose and a rune lord
Summary:
Three companions reunite in a bond of brotherhood that is stronger than blood
Notes:
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Chapter Text
He did not know how long he rode, only that he rode as fast as the horse could carry him, only stopping when the Winter was at the point of collapse. Dismounting, he found a small creek and let his horse quench her thirst and rest some, all the while the conversation with Margaery playing in his mind over and over, every word, every sentence again and again, and it pained him greatly. Jon wished it to stop, but it could not.
"Why did she do that?" he asked in a distraught tone looking at Winter, the horse's sigh being its only answer as it continued to drink from the creek. Jon did not think he could get more miserable than when he first heard the news of his father's death, but now he felt even worse because the hurt came from the people he trusted the most, the people who were like a family to him, Mace, Loras, Garlan, and what hurt the most Margaery.
Margaery's dream was to wear the crown one day. He knew that since they were children, but he never thought she would be so desperate for it to actually betray him as she did, to go against every moment they shared together. He saw it in her eyes; she did love him but then why did she shun him as she did and side with a pack of murderers. Everything felt like some bad dream, but he knew it was real.
As Jon continued to drown in the poll of despair that were his thoughts now, Winter lifted her head and brought it to his. "Thanks, girl, but it's going to take more than that to cheer me up this time," Jon said as he looked at the black stallion. Thinking about his horse, he thought about Willas; it seems even the kind Willas took the side of the Lannisters at the end and threw away everything he had with Jon out of the window.
Loras will do as his father tells him to and join the Lannisters, maybe even become a Kingsguard again. The betrayal of the brother he chose hurt as much as Margaery's. He could not hold his rage any longer, finally letting out a desperate, disgruntled scream that filled the warm night ear. "Damn the Tyrells, damn them so seven hells," Jon shouted and then fell to his knees in grief. He thought the Tyrells were his family, that they loved him, that they cared about him, but in the end, they showed their true colors; who would love a motherless bastard anyway.
He was born out of lust, a stain on his father's name that no one will ever honestly care about. He let himself be deluded by the possibility of a beautiful woman loving him and having a father who encouraged him and was proud of him. He thought he had that with the Tyrells, but fate proved his dreams and hopes false.
After reflecting on the Tyrells, he finally started to wonder what he is to do now. Honor demands justice for his father; Stannis now had a large army, and from the last news he had heard, he was beaten back by the Lannisters and had fled to Dragonstone, which only left his brother Robb. His brother and the northern army are in the Riverlands, and to get to where he would have to get through the Crownlands held by the Lannisters or the Reach, where he is too well known. "Maybe by sea," he thought.
Seeing that Winter was too exhausted to go anywhere further, Jon decided to make camp in the woods nearby; they would provide shelter if it rained and from any who would be sent to look for him, if any. As he approached the woods, he realized that in his haste to leave, he left any provisions he would need. Looking at the moon, he decided it would be best to leave that concern to the morning, after getting some rest and, if possible clear his head a bit, but he doubted the latter.
Tying his horse to a tree, Jon let her graze the grass. "At least you have something to eat," Jon said sadly. He put his back to a tree and closed his eyes, trying not to think about the events that transpired but having little luck with that. As he continued to try and regain some strength, Jon heard a sound coming from the bushes behind him. It seemed that Winter heard it too because her head was lifted high, and she was on alert. Jon listened to the noise again and got up.
"Soldiers sent to capture him," he thought. "Or some beast from the wood," Jon unsheathed his sword and looked in the direction from where the noise was coming from. Expecting for something to lunged at him at any moment, he readied himself for a fight. More noise came, and the bushes in front of him started to move; fear began to fill Jon's mind. The bushes moved once more, and a head popped out, yellow eyes staring at him. Jon lowered his blade.
"Lady?" he said in disbelief. Moments later, Ghost's head popped out of the shrubs, a large hare in his mouth. "Ghost?" Jon said, and the two wolves came out of the brush and walked up to him. He left the wolves alone, he left them, thank the gods they are unharmed or captured and put in cages again. Jon looked at the wolves, who looked back at him, yet another promise he could not keep, to watch over them. What would Sansa say if she knew about this?
Ghost took another step and put the hare in front of Jon's feet. He could not believe it; he was the one that was supposed to take care of them but now it was the opposite; they were watching over him. Kneeling, he took the hare and petted Ghost and Lady on the head. "Thank you," Jon said, and he could have sworn that Ghost nodded.
Jon prepared the fire and skinned the rabbit without any further delay, putting him to roast over the fire. When the hare was finally ready, Jon took it off the fire and split it into three pieces, taking one for himself and giving the other two to his trusty companions.
"At least I know you won't ever leave me," Jon said as he watched the wolves eat, and then he took a bite from his share. The hare was enough to set his hunger at ease for a time. As soon as the sun began to rise, Jon awoke to find Ghost missing, with Lady sleeping soundly next to him. Soon the white wolf came back with another rabbit. "You are good at this," Jon said as the wolf gave the hare over to him. Lady's yawn was the sigh that she awoke, and Ghost immediately went to his little sister. After eating the rabbit and having a drink from the creek, Jon, his group of animal companions went further up the road, not knowing what it would lead them, but one thing was certain it led far away from those who betrayed him.
Olenna
Olenna just woke up, got dressed with the help of a servant. She had a good night's sleep; her family was back in the game, and they were going to win. Renly death was unfortunate, but she did not care much about it, seeing that a second hand had been given to them. She decided to go break her fast when Right entered the room.
"My lady," the giant said, and by the tone of his voice, she could tell that something had happened.
"What is it? She asked.
"Ser Loras is missing," he answered.
"What?" Olenna looked at the large man, not sure if she heard him right.
"He is gone, my lady."
"Explain," she ordered.
"Ser Loras left the camp during the night, accompanied by Ser Robar. "Thoughts started running, threw her mind as she heard that. Olenna thought that her grandsons' bond with the bastard might pose a problem, but it seems she underestimated his stupidity. She sat down on a chair and started to think. Loras would go after the bastard, that is certain, but why would Robar go with him. Olenna lifted her head and looked at the Knight.
"How did he get past you and your companion?"
"Ser Loras cut the back of his tent and snuck out," Right explained.
"You are useless; you could not keep one boy inside his room," Olenna said, displeasure and anger evident. This just had to happen when everything was starting to go right again. "Did no one see him? Why didn't anyone stop him?"
"Ser Loras was seen when he was leaving the camp with Ser Robar, but one dared to stop and ask where they were going."
"Damn it, Loras, you and that stupid bastard," Olenna mumbled. "Why didn't anyone notify me earlier?"
"We weren't aware that he left the tent; it was only when I went to check up on him that we found out that he was gone, and after asking some of the guards, they said they saw Ser Loras leave during the night."
"Listen to me and listen to me carefully, get some men to go and find my grandson, and bring him back here."
"At once, my lady," the nameless Knight said and departed.
"Unharmed," Olenna added, again he nodded and left.
Damn it, everything was going how it should be, and now this, even when not here, the bastard ends up messing with her plans. When Littlefinger first arrived and gave her the offer, it was like the gods themselves gave her a second chance. Persuading her stupid son wasn't easy, but she managed, Willas and Garlan too; with Margaery, it was more problematic, but the girl knew her choices and made the right one. She knew Loras would be the hardest to win over, and he proved that last night, but she never expected him to go after the bastard.
The riders will find him and bring him back here; once they do, she will deal with her unruly grandson personally, but until then, things can't be stopped, they are to march out soon, and they would see Margaery crowned.
Loras
"Ya! Ya!" Loras shouted to Bluebell to make her go faster, Robar riding right behind him. It was days since they set out to find Jon, and still, they had no success at accomplishing their task. At first, Loras thought they might catch up with Jon in a day, two at most, but Winter proved to be one of the fastest horses Willas ever bred, and Loras cursed his brother for that; there no telling how far Jon could have gone.
The travelers they came across were little or no help, non-seeing a man matching Jon's description. Their best lead came from a woodcutter that said he saw a knight on a large black horse ride past several days ago. Following this lead, they went to a small village just at the side of the Roseroad near the border with the Stormlands.
Asking the smallfolk if they saw Jon yielded little results; no said that they saw him or that they even glanced at him. He and Robar were trying to figure out their next course of action when a little boy came to them.
"Excuse me, milords," said the boy. They turned to look at the boy.
"Yes?" Robar asked.
"I heard you were asking about a knight on a black horse."
"Yes, do you know anything?"
"I might, but what I know is going to cost you," the boy said with a smirk. They were looking for Jon, and here comes some brat asking for money to give them the information they desperately need.
"Listen, boy, we need..." Loras started but was stopped by Robar.
Robar took a silver stag out of his pouch and tossed it to the boy, who caught it in his small hands, a large smile on his face. "Speak," Robar ordered.
"A knight passed through here late last night; he rode atop a black horse and had too large dogs with him."
"Dogs?" Both Robar and Loras asked.
"Yes, a large white one and a smaller gray one, but they were still bigger than any dogs I ever saw."
"The Direwolves," said Robar.
"They must have gone after Jon when he fled the camp," Loras said, "Where did they go?"
"Up the road," the boy said.
"He is going to Kings Landing," Robar said, and Loras could hear the worry in the Knight's voice.
"We need to catch up with him before he does," Loras said.
Robar looked at the boy and raised an eyebrow. "How do you know this when everyone else we asked had not seen a thing?"
"I sometimes sneak out of the house to play with some other kinds; I returned later than normal and saw the knight ride through the village. I hid once I saw the dogs." The boy said, and Loras understood the boy's fear; any sensible person would cower when a wolf that is almost the same size as a horse starts coming towards you.
"Well, it seems we have a new lead; mount up, my friend, we ride," Loras said to Robar, and they were quickly riding fast to catch up to Jon before it's too late. They rode as fast as they could before deciding to give the horses a small break. Dismounting, Loras took out a paunch with water and took several sips from it, handing it to Robar when done.
"I meant to ask why you joined Renly in the first place. You are from the Vale, and your kinsmen decided to stay out of this war."
Robar lowed the paunch from his lips and look at Loras. "Because I'm like you," Robar said, and Loras raised an eyebrow. "I'm not the firstborn son; the chances of me being the lord of Runestone are small. A second son must find his fortune elsewhere. My younger brother Waymar joined the Nights watch.
"Jon once told me that his uncle Benjen is the first ranger at the Wall. The way Jon described it, joining the Night's watch in the North is seen as an honorable calling, while here in the south, it is seen as a punishment.
"My brother went voluntarily, thinking that his future is there, that he might become the next Lord commander."
"So where is he stationed, Castle Black, the Shadow Tower, Eastwatch?" Loras asked.
Robar sighed. "He was stationed at Castle Black, not so long ago, he led a party that went ranging beyond the Wall. They… the entire party disappeared. Lord Commander Mormont sent a letter sometime after notifying us of my little brother's faith."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Loras said. It was evident by Robar's eyes that he missed his brother and that he regretted not being there for him. That is why Loras was going after Jon to keep his brother safe.
"Enough about my brother," Robar said remorsefully, "the horses have rested; he should keep going."
"Aye," Loras said and mounted Bluebell, Robar doing the same to his horse, and they continued their path. The way they were told meant that Jon had taken route south, down the Kingsroad.
Night fell, and they were still riding in what they hoped was the way where they would finally catch up with Jon. As they rode down the Kingsroad, Robar suddenly stopped his horse. Loras turned to the fellow knight.
"What is it?" Loras asked, possibilities racing through his mind, everything from it being nothing to a potential ambush.
"Smell that? It's smoke, and it's coming from close by." Robar said.
"It could be Jon," Loras said, hoping that it might be true.
"Possibly," Robar replied.
The two knights dismounted and tied their horses to a nearby tree, proceeding to find the source of the smoke. Soon they found a man sitting next to a fire, cooking some dear meat, a large deer stood cut open several meters away, and an old farm horse lay on the group sleeping. The man was larger and taller than Jon, but he may yet have some information. Loras carefully stepped out of the brush, not wanting to cause any brash reactions.
"Hello there," Loras said, and the man immediately turned, their eyes locking.
"W-Who are you?" the man asked.
"Just a traveler who is looking for a friend," Loras said calmly.
The man looked at Loras from head to toe. "You are lying. You are a lord."
"A Ser actually," Loras corrected the man, "but I'm not lying. I'm looking for someone."
"No, you are a lord, and I'm guessing that this land belongs to you as does every fucking tree and animal, right?"
Loras looked at the man, confused, "Excuse me?"
"Well, I caught that deer; you have plenty more, so leave me be!"
"I just need to ask you if you saw someone," Loras said calmly.
"Like hell, you think me an idiot," the man growled. "I know what happens when a normal person tries to hunt on some lord's land; they get their hand cut off or worse. I'm not losing my hand." The man said, took a skinning knife from his belt, and rushed at Loras. Loras was surprised by the man's reaction, but it was uncoordinated and slow. Loras only moved slightly to the side in the last second and made the attacker trip over his outstretched leg, falling face-first into a tree, knocking him out cold.
"Well, that was certainly interesting," Robar said as he moved out of the brush.
"It sure was," replied Loras
"A poacher?" asked Robar.
"Most likely, but we might still get something out of him. Get the ropes; we will tie him up, so he doesn't make any brash choices anymore." Loras said, and Robar did as ask. After tying the poacher's arms and legs up, they decided to wake him up, splashing water on his face to do so. The man shook his head and opened his eyes.
"What the fuck?" the man said.
Loras, with the water punch still in his hand, knelt next to the man. "Now, let's try this again," Loras said, and the man started trying to break free of his restraints to no avail. Loras sighed. "You are not going to rip through those ropes, my poacher friend."
"I'm not a poacher," the man said.
"Then, who are you?" Loras asked.
"Grenn, my name is Grenn," the man answered.
"Well, Grenn, the way I see it, you hunted in this land without the permission of its lord."
"Who gives a shit about one deer? The lords have more than they would even need."
"That might be true, but it's still the law," Loras said.
"Fuck your law, you highborn cunt" Grenn said, and soon the tip of Robar's blade found itself in front of Grenns neck.
"Show some respect; this is Ser Loras Tyrell you are addressing," Robar said, and the man looked at them, anger filling his eyes.
"Never heard of him."
"Never?" Loras asked surprised, he thought that everyone knew who he was by now. Grenn looked at Loras and then at Robar with those rage-filled eyes. "What about my red armored friend here, Ser Robar Royce?"
"Never, and you can that your title and cram it up to your ass."
"You are not a smart one, are you?" Robar said.
"I'm smart," Grenn replied, spiting a bit in Loras's face.
"By the looks of it, not so much," Loras said as he wiped the spit off his face. Robar pushed his sword into Grenns neck a bit further. "Now listen to me carefully; we honestly don't give a damn about you; all we need to know is if you saw a man with two large wolves with him."
"Why should I say anything to you?"
"Because as I said, we don't give a damn about you, but we need information. If your answer satisfies us, we won't kill you," Loras said, trying to sound intimidating. The man's looks changed from anger to fear.
"If I tell you, you won't kill me?"
"No," replied Loras.
After a moment, Grenn spoke. "A man, a knight rode past here an hour ago, with two wolves."
"How do we know you are not lying to us?" Robar said.
"The knight wore green armor, the wolves were big, really big, one was white, and the other dark gray," Grenn said fast.
"That's Jon," said Loras.
"Aye, an hour ago, which means we can catch up with him," said Robar.
"Yes, but what do we do with him?" Loras said as he turned his gaze from Robar to Grenn.
"He is a poacher; this is the Kingswood, so the nearest lord should deal with him," Loras answered and got up.
"But most have turned declared Stannis," Robar said.
"Well, they still might know what basic courtesy is, and we are doing them a favor."
"Please don't; they will kill me or send me to the Wall," Grenn begged.
"Then you should now have poached," Loras said. Loras and Robar managed to get the heavy man on to his horse and lead it out of the small camp to where they left their horses. Mounting up and securing Grenns horse to Loras's, they rode once again, Jon being so close to them this time.
Robar
It was hard for him to talk about to his brother to Loras; he loved Waymar as any brother should love, making it that much harder. Waymar was the youngest of the three of them; when he first decided to take the black, Robar tried to talk him out of it, telling him that there are other possibilities out there, but Waymar would not listen, he wanted to become a Nights watchmen, and no one would persuade him otherwise.
Saying goodbye was hard, hearing the news of his disappearance even harder. When the raven first arrived, he wanted nothing more than to lead an army and deal with the damn wildlings once and for all, them being the only thing that could have killed his brother beyond the Wall. But eventually, he calmed down and accepted the fate that the gods bestowed his brother. Waymar died fighting; Robar was sure of that. All that was left to him is to find his own path in this world.
Joining the Kingsguard of Renly Baratheon was the opportunity he was waiting for, become a guard to a king meant respect and prestige, and he immediately went for it. But all that came crashing down when Renly died, and he would have joined the king if it were not for Jon, the man saving his life in the last second. He owed Jon a life debt, and he was intent to repay it.
While riding after Jon, he had to put a cloth over Grenns mouth to keep the poacher from yelling and swearing anymore; now, all he heard was some mumbled noises. They finally spotted a figure in the distance; soon, they could make out a rider and the two wolves behind him.
"Jon!" yelled Loras excitedly, but the rider did not stop. "Jon!" Loras cried once more with the same result. With no sigh on any response, Loras kicked his horse into a fast gallop, Robar doing the same but still minding that their new friend did not fall of his horse.
Jon must have heard horses approaching him because he turned around to look at them. As they closed the distance to just a dozen meters now, they slowed their horses.
"Jon," Loras said once more, an excited look on his face. Robar was pleased that they finally managed to catch up to Jon. Riding closer, Jon watched them with a surprised and suspicious look on his face. It was then when the two wolves took several steps closer, snarling and growling at them, all of the sound coming from the smaller one, while the other did not make a sound. This spooked the horses, and both he and Loras took them several meters back. Loras and Robar looked at Jon both with uncertain looks on their faces.
"Why did you come after me? What do you want?" Jon asked.
"We came to find you," Loras said.
"Why, so you could use me as a hostage just like my sisters."
"Dear gods, no Jon," Loras said, take back by his friend's words.
"Then, why?" Jon asked.
"We came after you to make sure you are safe," Robar said.
Jon looked at them with suspicion, "And why would you do that? The Tyrells made it clear that I'm no longer wanted," Jon said while looking at Loras.
"That's not true, Jon," Loras said.
"Not true, your family made it clear that all the time I spent with them meant nothing, that I meant nothing," Jon said bitterly.
Loras got off his hoses and tried to walk to Jon but was stopped by the two wolves. "I can't imagine how you must feel right now but know I'm not here to bring you back in chains; we did not come all this way just to harm you, Jon."
"Then, why did you come?"
"As Robar said, we came here to help you to keep you safe."
"And why would you do that Loras, why would you and Robar want to help a bastard," Jon barked.
"Because you are not a bastard, not to me, you are my brother Jon, and you do not abandon your brother when he is in need of help," Loras said, and Robar could see Jon's expression soften a bit.
"Why would you go against your own family?" Jon asked.
"Because they proved that they care more about power than actual family," Loras said, and Robar could see how hard it was for the fellow knight to admit that "You are family Jon, my family. They can say whatever they want, but that will never change that," Jon's expression softened some more.
"And why is he here?" Jon asked, looking at Robar.
"You saved my life the night king Renly was murdered; I owe you my life."
"You owe me nothing, Ser," Jon said.
"I disagree; you saved my life, and honor dictates that I must return what is owed," Robar said, and he could see the surprise on Jon's face.
"You came all this way because you see me as a brother and a life debt?" Jon asked.
"We came here because we care about you, Jon, don't dismiss us," Loras said. Robar looked at Jon at could see hurt, confusion, and hope all in his eyes.
"Truly? This isn't some deception?"
"No, we swear on our honor, it's not Jon," said Robar.
Jon looked at them for a long moment, like he was thinking to either believe them or not. Then finally, he spoke.
"I-I believe you," Jon said.
Loras sighed, "Thank you, Jon," the Tyrell said in a sincere tone. "Now, could you recall the wolves? I don't like the way Lady is looking at me like I'm her next dinner." A small smile appeared on Jon's face, and he whistled, the two wolves immediately backing down and going back to him.
Jon dismounted and walked over to Loras, embracing him tightly. "Thank you, Loras,"
"There is nothing to thank me for, you are the brother I chose, and we will stand together always," Loras said.
Robar dismounted too just as they broke off the embrace. Jon turned to him and offering Robar his hand, which Robar took.
"Thank you, Robar. I honestly did not think you would be the one to come after me."
"Well, that only means we did not get to know each other as well as we should."
"You are right; thank you again."
"Don't mention it."
Jon looked at Robar and then at Loras. "How did you find me, anyway? Did you really track me down all the way or just went on luck."
"We tracked you down," Robar said.
"It wasn't easy; you left few trails to follow," Loras added.
"That was for a reason," Jon replied.
"Yeah, but we did have help," Loras said with a smile.
"Help from who?" Jon asked.
"From our new friend here," Robar said as he walked over to Grenn and lifted his head by the hair, the man growling in annoyance.
"Who is he?" Jon asked curiously.
"A poacher we caught, he led us to you after some careful negotiation," Robar answered.
"Careful negotiation? You didn't put ants in his bits, did you?" Jon asked Loras.
"No, that happened only once, but now that you mention it, that would have made a good idea."
"I'm not even going to ask to who you did that," Robar said.
"So, what do you intend to do with him?" Jon asked.
"We will hand him over to the nearest lord, and he will deal with him," Robar said, and Grenn immediately started mumbling through the cloth.
"What he is saying?" Loras asked, and Robar removed the cloth.
"I'm not going to the Wall, you cunts, release me!" Grenn shouted, and Robar put the cloth back.
"That's enough of that," Robar said.
"So, what do we do now?" Jon asked.
"I don't know, we were hoping you had a direction."
"I don't," Jon said.
"You didn't think about going anywhere, joining Stannis or something?"
"A bit but not really; my mind has been thinking about other things," Jon said sadly, and Loras put one hand on Jon's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Jon, I truly am."
"You have nothing to be sorry about; you are not the one who betrayed me."
"But still, it was my blood who did, and I'm sorry." After a small moment of silence, Jon asked what they are to do next.
"The way I see it, it's best if we first drop our new friend off and see it from there," Robar said.
"To who do we give him?" Loras asked.
"I believe castle Hasty is nearby; we can drop him off there," Robar said.
"Now that I think about it, most of the Stormlands have declared for Stannis; what is to stop them from attacking us the moment we step foot into the castle or near it."
"I don't know, but house Hasty is an honorable family, from what I heard. If we come with a criminal with no intent to do wrong, I don't believe they will harm us," said Robar.
"Well, if that's the best option we have, then so be it. Let us just hope you are right," Jon said.
"I suggest we do that in the morning, it is late as it is, and we been riding all day long," Loras said, and Jon agreed that they all would profit from some sleep. They made camp in the woods, sharing the food he and Loras had brought with Jon; the wolves seemed not to like dry meat and going off to hut for themselves. After some more talking, they decided to put one man on watch duty just in case. Loras being the first one, Robar being the next one being woken up two hours later.